I recently watched the French film ?? Angel of Death (1985) on Tubi. The plot follows a commando unit dispatched to South America to capture the notorious Nazi, Dr. Mengele, who continues his sinister experiments on the locals. The mission: infiltrate Mengele's compound and deliver justice.

Directed by Andrea Bianchi (Maniac Killer), the film features performances by Christopher Mitchum (Big Jake), Fernando Rey (French Connection), Howard Vernon (Delicatessen), and Dora Doll (Maniac Killer).

Angel of Death is one of those movies that's so bad it's strangely captivating. While the premise and settings offer potential for an authentic thriller, the execution falls short. The shootouts provide some entertainment, albeit with dated flair, and are arguably the film's highlight. However, the wardrobe choices leave much to be desired, with instances like a character sporting boat shoes and wool socks that distract from the narrative. The portrayal of "Nazis" feels superficial, lacking the authenticity of proper uniforms and relying on arm bands and plainclothes. Sniper scenes feature peculiar visual effects, while dirt bike sequences elicit unintended laughter. The martial arts scenes are particularly cringe-worthy. The martial arts expert? commando literally kicks a guy into the pool in his big action scene, like you'd do with your friends as a kid. The makeup and bandages on the experimental subjects are more likely to induce laughter than horror.

In conclusion, Angel of Death's sheer awfulness compels you to keep watching, if only to witness how much worse it can get. I'd rate it a 3/10 and suggest giving it a single viewing, if only for only the experience. ?

Name-brand actors co-star with clowns who often worked for Jess Franco in this Dr. Mengele story; the end result gives THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL no competition whatsoever. Fernando Rey and Jack Taylor are Nazi hunters while Christopher Mitchum is a crippled American mercenary employed by Mengele (Howard Vernon.) The pretty young agent who infiltrates Mengele's stronghold is played by an actress named Dora Doll–I kid you not! She gets to see the pathetic results of Mengele's genetic experiments before being beaten and thrown in a cage. The only mutant we get to see is a chimp-man who probably could have made a better movie. Taylor and friends attack the compound in an assault that tries, without success, to match the finale of THE WILD BUNCH. Director Andrea Bianchi apparently had a surplus of blood-squibs; the bullet holes are big and bloody and the red stuff sprays through the air by the gallon, literally painting the screen crimson. However, guns are aimed at soldiers' chests and they suffer head wounds, and Taylor walks out of an exploding building without a scratch. Too bad the real Josef Mengele didn't live long enough to sit through this howler—such torture would have been partial payback for his crimes against humanity.

ANGEL OF DEATH is one of those cheapo Eurocine productions made to cash in on the rage for Italian action/war films in the late 1980s. It was made by the unholy pairing of the infamous Jess Franco with Andrea Bianchi, the man who bought us BURIAL GROUND, and impressively enough it was filmed in Uruguay so it has visual authenticity. The plot is nothing special, involving a commando squad sent into the jungle to track down and kill the infamous Nazi doctor Mengele, and it's mostly an excuse for regular shoot-'em-up scenes of henchmen being shot with arrows or blown up. The film also has an impressive cast of low-rent appearances, chief of whom is Chris Mitchum in a sweaty turn. Howard Vernon is well cast as the sinister doctor, and Jack Taylor plays a good guy for a change. Fernando Rey has also been roped into taking part in the mayhem. With Franco's influence, expect plenty of scenes of young women in distress and wearing very little, and not much in the way of quality.